Multiple article locating system and associated method

• US 20070279220A1
• Filed: 06/02/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karen Wilcox
• Original Assignee: Karen Wilcox
• Inventors: Wilcox, Karen
• Granted Patent: US 7,817,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.320
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The system includes a hand-held central monitoring device including an antenna and a receiver. A display screen is electrically coupled to a signal potency evaluating circuit and an audio transducer is electrically coupled thereto. A plurality of labeled identification members are attached to the existing misplaced articles. A first tuned frequency transducer is electrically coupled to a tuned frequency signal generating module. A central monitoring device receives signals and a mechanism detects a location of the existing misplaced article. Labeled identification modules are removably attached to the misplaced articles.

Claims

1. A wireless system for finding a plurality of existing misplaced articles, said wireless system comprising:

a hand-held central monitoring device including means for generating and transmitting a first signal based upon a user input;

a plurality of labeled identification members attached to the existing misplaced articles, each of said labeled identification members including means for generating and transmitting a second signal responsive to said first signal; and

wherein said central monitoring device receives said second signal and further includes means for detecting a location of the existing misplaced article based upon a potency level of said received second signal.

2. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein said first signal generating and transmitting means comprises:

a plurality of controls;

a tuned frequency signal generating module electrically coupled in series to said controls, said tuned frequency signal generating module generating said first signal based upon a user pressing a selected one of said controls wherein each of said first signals has a unique frequency level; and

a first tuned frequency transducer electrically coupled to said tuned frequency signal generating module, said tuned frequency transducer receiving and transforming said first tuned frequency signal to a signal wave.

3. The wireless system of claim 2, wherein said second signal generating and transmitting means comprises:

a unique radio frequency identification device for receiving and verifying said first signal;

a second tuned frequency transducer electrically coupled to said radio frequency identification device, said second transducer being activated upon receiving said first signal;

a power conditioning circuit electrically coupled to said second transducer, said power conditioning circuit rectifying an alternating voltage generated by said second transducer such that a rectified voltage is generated; and

a radio frequency transmitter electrically coupled to said power conditioning circuit and being activated upon receipt of said rectified voltage, said radio frequency transmitter generating and transmitting a second radio frequency signal response to said first signal.

4. The wireless system of claim 3, wherein said central monitoring device further comprises:

an antenna;

a receiver electrically coupled thereto, said receiver receiving said second signal from a detected one of said labeled identification modules;

a signal potency evaluating circuit electrically coupled to said receiver for determining a signal potency of said second signal;

a display screen electrically coupled to said signal potency evaluating circuit for visually displaying a graphical image of a potency level of said second signal; and

an audio transducer electrically coupled to said signal potency evaluating circuit, said audio transducer generating and emitting an audible response signal corresponding to said potency level of said second signal.

5. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein said first signal includes a coded data stream corresponding to a predetermined frequency code of a corresponding one of said radio frequency identification devices attached to one of the existing misplaced articles.

6. The wireless system of claim 4, wherein an amplitude level of said rectified voltage is directly proportional to an intensity level of said signal wave.

7. A wireless system for finding a plurality of existing misplaced articles, said wireless system comprising:

a hand-held central monitoring device including means for generating and transmitting a first signal based upon a user input;

a plurality of labeled identification members attached to the existing misplaced articles, each of said labeled identification members including means for generating and transmitting a second signal responsive to said first signal; and

wherein said central monitoring device receives said second signal and further includes means for detecting a location of the existing misplaced article based upon a potency level of said received second signal;

wherein said labeled identification modules are removably attached to the misplaced articles.

8. The wireless system of claim 7, wherein said first signal generating and transmitting means comprises:

a plurality of controls;

a tuned frequency signal generating module electrically coupled in series to said controls, said tuned frequency signal generating module generating said first signal based upon a user pressing a selected one of said controls wherein each of said first signals has a unique frequency level; and

a first tuned frequency transducer electrically coupled to said tuned frequency signal generating module, said tuned frequency transducer receiving and transforming said first tuned frequency signal to a signal wave.

9. The wireless system of claim 8, wherein said second signal generating and transmitting means comprises:

a unique radio frequency identification device for receiving and verifying said first signal;

a second tuned frequency transducer electrically coupled to said radio frequency identification device, said second transducer being activated upon receiving said first signal;

a power conditioning circuit electrically coupled to said second transducer, said power conditioning circuit rectifying an alternating voltage generated by said second transducer such that a rectified voltage is generated; and

a radio frequency transmitter electrically coupled to said power conditioning circuit and being activated upon receipt of said rectified voltage, said radio frequency transmitter generating and transmitting a second radio frequency signal response to said first signal.

10. The wireless system of claim 9, wherein said central monitoring device further comprises:

an antenna;

a receiver electrically coupled thereto, said receiver receiving said second signal from a detected one of said labeled identification modules;

a signal potency evaluating circuit electrically coupled to said receiver for determining a signal potency of said second signal;

a display screen electrically coupled to said signal potency evaluating circuit for visually displaying a graphical image of a potency level of said second signal; and

an audio transducer electrically coupled to said signal potency evaluating circuit, said audio transducer generating and emitting an audible response signal corresponding to said potency level of said second signal.

11. The wireless system of claim 7, wherein said first signal includes a coded data stream corresponding to a predetermined frequency code of a corresponding one of said radio frequency identification devices attached to one of the existing misplaced articles.

12. The wireless system of claim 10, wherein an amplitude level of said rectified voltage is directly proportional to an intensity level of said signal wave.

13. A method for finding a plurality of existing misplaced articles, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a hand-held central monitoring device having a plurality of controls and an antenna;

b. from said central monitoring device, generating and transmitting a first signal based upon a user input;

c. attaching a plurality of labeled identification members to the existing misplaced articles;

d. selected ones of said labeled identification members generating and transmitting a second signal responsive to said first signal;

e. said central monitoring device receiving said second signal; and

f. detecting a location of the existing misplaced article based upon a potency level of said received second signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step b. comprises the steps of:

a. providing a tuned frequency signal generating module electrically coupled in series to said controls;

b. said tuned frequency signal generating module generating said first signal based upon a user pressing a selected one of said controls wherein each of said first signals has a unique frequency level;

c. providing a first tuned frequency transducer electrically coupled to said tuned frequency signal generating module; and

d. said tuned frequency transducer receiving and transforming said first tuned frequency signal to a signal wave.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein step d. comprises the steps of:

a. providing a unique radio frequency identification device;

b. said unique radio frequency identification device receiving and verifying said first signal;

c. providing a second tuned frequency transducer electrically coupled to said radio frequency identification device;

d. activating said second transducer upon receiving said first signal;

e. providing a power conditioning circuit electrically coupled to said second transducer;

f. said power conditioning circuit rectifying an alternating voltage generated by said second transducer such that a rectified voltage is generated; and

g. providing a radio frequency transmitter electrically coupled to said power conditioning circuit;

h. activating said radio frequency transmitter upon receipt of said rectified voltage; and

i. said radio frequency transmitter generating and transmitting a second radio frequency signal response to said first signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein step f. comprises the steps of:

a. providing a receiver electrically coupled to said antenna;

b. said receiver receiving said second signal from a detected one of said labeled identification modules;

c. providing a signal potency evaluating circuit electrically coupled to said receiver;

d. said signal potency evaluating circuit determining a signal potency of said second signal;

e. providing a display screen electrically coupled to said signal potency evaluating circuit;

f. said display screen visually displaying a graphical image of a potency level of said second signal;

g. providing an audio transducer electrically coupled to said signal potency evaluating circuit; and

h. said audio transducer generating and emitting an audible response signal corresponding to said potency level of said second signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first signal includes a coded data stream corresponding to a predetermined frequency code of a corresponding one of said radio frequency identification devices attached to one of the existing misplaced articles.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein an amplitude level of said rectified voltage is directly proportional to an intensity level of said signal wave.